The American Indian Youth Literature Awards Discussion and ReflectionNaomi Bishop, MLIS, AHIP

What are the AILA Youth Literature Awards?

The American Indian Youth Literature

Awards (AIYLA) identify and honor the

best writing and illustrations by Native

Americans and Indigenous peoples of

North America. Books selected to

receive the award present Indigenous

North American peoples in the fullness

of their humanity.

About the Award

Presented every two years in three categories:

Best Picture Book

Best Middle Grade Book

Best Young Adult Book

54 Books Recognized

43 Publishers

50+ Creators

2015 Infographic citation : Huyck, David, Sarah Park Dahlen, Molly Beth Griffin. (2016 September 14). Diversity in Children’s Books 2015 infographic. sarahpark.com blog. Retrieved fromreadingspark.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/picture-this-reflecting-diversity-in-childrens-book-publishing

Statistics compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison: ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp

Released for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

Children's Books By and/or About First/Native Nations Received by the CCBC*--US Publishers Only- 2015 -

Year By About

2018 22 34

2017 18 44

2016 8 35

2015 9 28

Data on books by and about people of color and from First/Native Nations published for children and teens compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of

Wisconsin-Madison. https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp

Huyck, David and Sarah Park Dahlen. (2019 June 19). Diversity in Children’s Books 2018. sarahpark.com blog. Created in consultation with Edith Campbell, Molly Beth Griffin, K. T. Horning, Debbie Reese, Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, and Madeline Tyner, with statistics compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison: ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp. Retrieved from readingspark.wordpress.com/2019/06/19/picture-this-diversity-in-childrens-books-2018-infographic.

Children's Books By and/or About First/Native Nations Received by the CCBC* 2002 - 2018

Data on books by and about people of color and from First/Native Nations published for children and teens compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of

Wisconsin-Madison. https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp

Year By About

2018 38 55

2017 38 72

2016 23 55

2015 19 42

2014 20 38

2013 18 34

2012 6 22

2011 12 28

2010 9 22

History of the Award

2010

ALA Annual Washington DC

2014

ALA Annual Las Vegas, NV4 Picture Books5 Middle Grade 5 Young Adult

2008

ALA AnnualAnaheim, CA

2012

First Honor Books ALA Annual

Anaheim, CA

2016

ALA AnnualOrlando, FL7 Picture Books15 Middle Grade Books8 Young Adult Books

2018

ALA Midwinter Denver, CO

30 Picture Books12 Middle Grade

7 Young Adult

2006First AILA Youth Literature Awards JCLC Dallas, TX

2020 YMAs50 books total 14 books selectedPB- 24MG-13YA-13

2019 ALA Midwinter Seattle, WA

Award Nominations: Books published from October 2019- October 2022. Books published in 2019, 2020, 2021 not previously submitted for the awards

Timeline of Awards Cycle October 2020- 2022 Awards Cycle Open

November 2020- Letter to publishers

Nominations open till October 2021

Awards Ceremony for 2020 Award

Books will be online January 2021

Deadline for 2022 submissions October

31, 2021

Announcement at ALA Midwinter 2022

● Winners are notified days before

the ALA Youth Media Awards.

● Awards ceremony is in odd years

when no winners are announced.

● New criteria for 2020 awards

required the committee to be

U.S. AILA members.

AILA Youth Literature Awards Committee

Committee requirement

AILA Member

Live in the U.S.

Experience

working with

Native children

and youth

Committee membership composition

Majority (⅔)

representation of

recognized members

of nation/tribe.

Geographic on/near

U.S. rez, ,villages, and

rural, suburban, and

urban communities

Committee membersduties

1) Nominate titles

in each category

2) Commit to four

virtual meetings

3) Assist with

AILA awards

ceremony

Committee Appointment

7 members

minimum and 10

member

maximum with

chair and co-chair.

Terms limits

Indigenous Jury members may serve an unlimited number of years as needed.Non-Native Jury members may serve for two award cycles or four years.

What are we looking for in Award winning books?● Meets all the awards criteria

● Honors communities and cultures

● Book brings joy to children, youth,

and families

● Something Native children/youth

would want to read over and over

again

“The Awards go beyond merely naming

the best creator of a particular art form

in a certain year to representing the

ideals of our multiple communities.

Native authors and illustrators are role

models for young people. For that

reason, AILA does not endorse authors

who appropriate other cultures or who

behave in ways that dishonor others.”

CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION● Authors (for illustrated books, both author AND illustrator) must be

recognized by the Native community of which they claim to be a part and

be connected to the people of that community.

● For anthologies, at least ⅔ of the authors must be recognized members

of the community to which they claim affiliation.

● Books must have been published after October of the year before the

last awards were given (i.e., the odd-numbered year preceding the

previous award cycle; after October 2019 for the 2022 awards.)

CRITERIA FOR NOMINATIONhttps://ailanet.org/activities/american-indian-youth-literature-award/

● Books may be nominated for consideration by the AIYLA Jury, publishers,

librarians, authors, illustrators, and others.

● The Awards go beyond merely naming the best creator of a particular art form

in a certain year to representing the ideals of our multiple communities. Native

authors and illustrators are role models for young people. For that reason, AILA

does not endorse authors who appropriate other cultures or who behave in ways

that dishonor others.

Discussions and Reflections

What are some things that you notice about AILA award

winning books?

Why do you think there are so few books published in the USA

vs. Canada?

What will bring change to the publishing industry in the US?

Who publishes Native authors and illustrators?

Empowering Youth and Families to Read

https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/empower-native-kids-to-read-jiT3qWspQU2tzubYAkiXtQ

Significance of ALA Youth Media Awards

https://youtu.be/CM3njHKbwv4?t=910

AILA Youth Literature 2020 Award Winners & Honors

How to order/buy AILA awards books?

● Direct from Publishers Websites

● Native Bookstores

● From distributors

● Online from that place with an A

Teaching with BooksEvery local educational agency (LEA) must teach a balanced curriculum adhering to State adopted standards and mandates for the content areas, using complementary materials that address the contributions of diverse cultures.

Schools must consciously build educational environments which value the rich heritage of all communities and cultures, fostering appreciation for all, so that all students and their families are treated equitably and with respect.

While planning lessons across all subjects, integrate culturally inclusive instruction that takes into account the unique stories, accomplishments, and struggles of all of people, especially Indigenous Peoples.

http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/culturally-inclusive-practices/

Contemporary Native Kids Native Children and Youth today

Cultural Appropriation and misrepresentations of their identity

Stereotypes in children’s literature and media, school and sports mascots

Tribal Sovereignty and telling our stories

Health disparities and environmental social justice

Language and cultural revitalization projects

How Libraries can helpCollection Development policy that reviews books for stereotypes and misrepresentations

Buy Books from Native authors and illustrators

Invite local tribal communities to be guest speakers

Discuss, display, and learn about Indigenous health and environments.

Buy books in Native Languages

Promoting AILA Awards

Celebrate with AILA AILA Youth Literature Awards

Virtual Ceremony

January 2021

More information coming soon!

Nominate a Book

Vanessa Centeno (Vigil)AILA 2022 Youth Literature Awards Chair Ailaawards2022@gmail.com

Questions?

ReferencesAILA Youth Literature Awardshttps://ailanet.org/activities/american-indian-youth-literature-award/

Cooperative Children's Book Center Publishers List https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pclist.asp

Burt Award for First Nations, Metis and Inuit Literature (CODE)https://www.burtaward.org/burt-award-canada

Native Change Makers At-Home Learninghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1f-7g27H6JdvA_yApTahFGKiMY5YMd6-q/view?fbclid=IwAR3-_phW-rkfqjATqNzCccbedpROnJz8pO-ViO9-iIbJon2_SdxpC6DOgdo

Teaching Books Net https://TeachingBooks.net/AIYLA2020